Adjustable suspended acoustical panel assembly



H. J. WENGER 3,221,835

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENDED ACOUSTICAL PANEL ASSEMBLY Dec. 7, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1963 1N VENTOR. HARRYIWENGER BY yj/ lfldtwArrozzvs Y-S' Dec. 7, 1965 H. J. WENGER 3,221,835

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENDED ACOUSTIGAL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed July 5, 1963 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 4

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INVENTOR. finknvll Vszvssk ArrakNE Y4 Dec. 7, 1965 FIG. 9

H. J. WENGER 3,221,835

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENDED ACOUSTICAL PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed July 5, 1963 .5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HARRYI WENGER BYW WM M United States PatentFiled July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,054 4 Claims. '(Cl.'18133) The presentinvention relates to acoustical equipment and more particularly to asuspended acoustical panel assembly.

A variety of acoustical panel devices have been previously proprosed foruse in connection with the production of musical compositions, stageproductions and the like. Frequently, such panels include soundreflective or absorbent material suspended above the orchestra orperformer. These prior devices, however, suffered from a number ofshortcomings and have been to some extent ineffective in operation.

One defect common in many of the prior acoustical panel devices of thetype described is that there is frequently no way to alter the angle ofreflection of the sound impinging thereon from the orchestra orperformer located therebelow. v

A further disadvantage of many prior sound modifying panels of the typedescribed is that there was no way they could be stored withoutoccupying a substantial amount of space.

Yet another shortcoming of some of the panels which were previously usedwas that they were relatively complicated in construction andconsequently expensive to produce. Others were inherently subject tobreakage and therefore did not provide the durability which is essentialin stage equipment and particularly that which is used in schools orcolleges where equipment is often subject to abuse by students.

In view of these and other defects in the prior art it is one object ofthe present invention to provide an improved acoustical panel andsupport therefore which is rugged in construction, reliable in operationand can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved acoustical panel wherein the panel members can be moved toselected positions about a horizontal axis extending transversely of thestage to thereby regulate the angle of reflection of the sound wavesimpinging thereon from a performer or orchestra positioned on the stagebelow the panels.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedacoustical panel including a means enabling the panel to be quickly andeasily collapsed to a storage position so that it will occupy a minimumof space when not in use.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved acoustical panel apparatus including a pair of panel memberspositioned at the same elevation in laterally spaced apart positions andincluding a means for maintaining the panels at predetermined spacing tothereby provide optimum acoustical effects.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved acoustical panel means including a pair of panel memberspositioned at the same elevation and pivotally supported at theiradjacent ends so that the height of the panel ends which are furthestseparated from one another can be changed as required.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which thesame numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the panel assembly according tothe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1 and drawn to a larger scale than FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1and drawn to a larger scale than FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and drawn tothe same scale as FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFIGURE 4 and drawn to a larger scale than FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 4 anddrawn to a larger scale than FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1 in apartially collapsed condition;

FIGURE 8 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8ofFIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the device when in a fullycollapsed condition.

Refer now to the drawings and to the following detailed descriptionwherein the same numerals refer to correspond,- ing parts in the severalviews. As can be best seen in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 9, the acousticalpanel assembly according to my invention includes a pair of panelmembers 10 and 12 supported by a plurality of support arms indicatedgenerally at 14 from a horizontally disposed support such as a hangerrod 16 or the like which is suspended in any suitable manner (not shown)preferably transversely of a stage or orchestra pit (not shown).

The panels 10 and 12 each include a pair of adjacent side edges 10a and12a which extend parallel to one another in a horizontal planepreferably transversely of the stage. Each of the panels 10 and 12. isgenerally rectangular and includes side edges 1% and 12b respectivelyand outward edges 10c and respectively. According to the presentinvention, a means is provided for raising and lowering the outwardedges 10c and 120 respectively while the inward edges 10a and 12a remainat their original elevations as described hereinbelow to make possibleadjustment of the angle of reflection of the sound impinging upon thelower surface of the panels as described fully hereinbelow.

While the materials from which the panels 10 are formed can vary widelydepending upon the requirements of the particular application, they arepreferably formed from wood such as a sheet of commercially availableplywood. Suitably bonded to the upward surface of the panels 10 and 12are a plurality of peripherally extending reinforcing means such asU-shaped and flanged channels 18. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, theflanges of the channels 18 are positioned in abutting relationship withthe upward surface of the panels 10 and 12. The channels 18 can befastened in any suitable manner to the panels 10 and 12 as by screws(not shown). To furnish further reinforcement for each of the panels,there is provided a diagonally extending reinforcing member 20 formedfrom the same material as the members 18.

As can be best seen in FIGURES 1, 4 and 9, a pair of supporting memberssuch as support arms 22 and 24 extend upwardly from each end of thepanel 12 and pivotally secured thereto by means of suitable bolts 26 and28 respectively, the bolts 26 each projecting through the vertical webof a bracket 30 and the bolts 28 projecting through the center of one ofthe reinforcing members 18 and being retained in place by means of athumb nut 32 (see FIGURE 4). The panel 10 is provided with a similarpair of support arms at each end designated 34 and 36, the arms 34 beingsecured by means of bolts 38 to the center of one of the reinforcingmembers 18 while the arms 36 are secured to the vertical web of brackets40 by means of bolts 42. Since the pairs of supporting arms 22, 24 and34, 36 are identical at each end of the panels 10 and 12, forconvenience, only the arms at one end of each of the panels will bedescribed in detail it being understood that the arms at the oppositeend operate in the same manner. As shown in FIG- URE 1, the bolts 28 and38 are in the approximate center of panels 12 and 10 respectively.

It will be seen that the support arms 22 and 36 extend upwardly when theapparatus is in the operational position of FIGURE 1 and are joinedtogether by means of a horizontally extending fastener such as a bolt41, best seen in FIGURE 8. Positioned between the upward ends of thearms 22 and 36 and over the bolt 41) is a connector such as a hook 45including an arcuate portion 43 at the upward end thereof adapted toengage the upper surface of the rod 16.

Each of the arms 24 and 34 is extensible and each includes a lowerportion provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced and centrallydirected sockets 44 adapted to receive a pin 44a which extendshorizontally from upper portions designated 46 and 43 respectively. Theupward ends of portions 46 and 48 are suitably bored and mounted overthe bolt 40 and secured in position by means of a nut Suitable spacerssuch as fibrous washers 52 and 54 are placed just inwardly of the upwardends of the portions 46 and 48 as shown in FIG- URE 8.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3 it will be seen that a short distanceupwardly of the pin 44a there is provided an upwardly and then laterallydirected locking member 66 which is suitably affixed to the lower end ofeach of the portions 46 and 48. The locking members 60 are each adaptedto engage the upward surface of the lower portion of arms 24 and 34 toprevent the portions 46 and 48 from pivoting about the bolt 40downwardly beyond the upper surface of the arms 34 and 24 respectively.To adjust the length of the extensible arms 24 and 34, the pins 44a areshifted longitudinally into various of the sockets 44 as required andwill remain reliably locked in position once put in place.

Pivotally secured upon a pin 62 extending through the connector 42 is aretainer 64 formed from a short section of angle iron. At the upward endof the retainer 64 is a pointed portion 65 adapted to engage the lowersurface of the rod 16 when the hook is elevated thereby reliablypreventing the accidental removal of the panel assembly from the rod 16.When, however, it is desired to remove the panels for storage, theretainer 64 need only be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as seenin FIGURE 1, and the hook 43 can be released from the rod 16. Identicalbolts 40, hook members 42 and retainers 64 are provided at each end ofthe panel assembly.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a spacing member or lever 70 is secured bymeans of pin 72 to the arm 36 at the end of the apparatus nearest theobserver in FIG URE l for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. Anidentical lever 70 is pivotally secured to the arm 22 at the oppositeend of the apparatus and extends therefrom toward the left as seen inFIGURE 1 when in the normal operating position. The levers 70 and '76are releasably secured at their free ends by means of releasableretainers composed of horizontally disposed pins 74 on the end of eacharm adapted to project into a socket 76 on the inward surface of the arm22 as shown in FIGURE 9 in the case of lever 70. A similar socket (notshown) is provided on the arm 36 furthest from the observer in FIGURE 1to receive the pin 74 of lever 70'. Each of the levers 70 and 70' isprovided with a guide formed from a metal strip 77 (FIGURE 2) whichprojects rearwardly and thence centrally from each of handles 80 and 811and is connected to the pin 74 at its inward end thereby enclosing thearms 22 and 36 respectively. Positioned slightly below each socket 76and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, is a stop 78, only oneof which is shown, for limiting the downward movement of the levers 7t)and 70. At the free end of each of the levers 70 and 70' are providedhandles 80 and 86' respectively, which an operator may grasp to positioneach of the levers.

When the apparatus according to the present invention is to be placed inuse, the hooks 43 at each end of the device are engaged over the top ofthe supporting rod 16. The retaining members 64 will swing due to theirown weight to the position shown in the drawings. In this position theretaining members 64 will reliably prevent the hooks 43 from beingdisconnected from the rod 16.

At this stage of placing the apparatus in condition for use, the panelswill ordinarily be in the position of FIG- URE 9. To place the panels intheir operative position, the levers 70 are pivoted downwardly bygrasping handles 80 and 80 until the pins 74 engage the recesses 76. Asthe levers 70 and 70' are thus positioned, the upward ends of the panelswill spread apart to a predetermined spacing as shown in FIGURE 7. Afterthis has been done, the outward or lower ends of each of the panels areelevated until the pins 44a of the arm portions 46 and 48 engage theselected sockets 44 of the arms 34 and 24 respectively. If it is desiredto reflect the sound further upwardly, the free edges of panels 10 and12 should be raised relatively high. If, on the other hand, it isdesired to reflect the sound back to the stage or floor at a pointrelatively close to the orchestra or performer positioned beneath thepanel, the panels are placed on a relatively slight incline. Should itbe desirable to reflect sound forwardly from both panels, both should beinclined upwardly in the same direction as shown in FIGURE 1, with theoutward end of the panel 12 positioned below pivots 26 and the outwardend of panel 10 raised above the pivots 42.

When the apparatus according to the present invention is to be placed instorage, the steps performed during assembly are reversed until theapparatus takes the position of FIGURE 9, at which time it may beremoved from the rod 16 and carried to a storage location It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that a plurality of such unitswill ordinarily be used simultaneously. As many units as desired can beemployed, to make up a suspended ceiling with the desired soundreflective qualities.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms. of theappended claims.

I claim.

1. An acoustical panel apparatus comprising in combination, a pair ofspaced apart panel members, elongated support members extending upwardlyfrom said panel members, connecting means at the upward end of saidelongated supporting member, some of said support members beingconnected to the panels at points spaced laterally of the connectionsbetween the other of said support members and said panels,longitudinally shiftable means for selectively adjusting the length ofsome of said elongated support members; whereby the angle of inclinationof said panels can be changed as desired; some of said support membersinclude a pair of adjacent and parallel elongated elements positionedside,

by side, one of said elements having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced sockets on one side thereof, the other of said elements includinga pin adapted to selectively engage said sockets and a locking memberspaced longitudinally from said pin and including a portion extendinglaterally therefrom over the side of said element having said socketstherein.

2. An acoustical panel apparatus comprising in combination, a pair ofpanel members, elongated support members extending upwardly therefrom,connecting means at the upward end of said support members for securingsaid panel apparatus to a suspending device, means for selectivelychanging the spacing between said panels independent of the relationshipof said panels to said suspending device; said means for changing thespacing between the panels comprising a lever pivotally re lated at oneend with one of said panels for movement about a horizontal axis and areleasable retainer means at the other end adapted for selectiveassociation with the other of said panels.

3. An acoustical panel comprising in combination, first and secondlaterally spaced panels, a first support means extending upwardly fromsaid first panel, second support means extending upwardly from saidsecond panel, said first and second support means being pivotallyconnected together at their upward ends, connecting means secured tosaid pivotal connection for securing said apparatus to a suspendingmeans, a first selectively operable position adjustment means forchanging the angle of inclination of said first panel about a horizontalaxis extending parallel with one edge of said first panel, a secondselectively adjustable means for changing the angle of inclination ofsaid second panel with respect to said horizontally disposed axiswhereby the sound striking said panels can he reflected at desiredangles with respect to the horizontal; a lever pivotally connected tosaid first support means for rotation about a horizontal axis, saidlever being adapted to extend horizontally therefrom and releasablyengage said second support means, said lever including a handle at theend thereof opposite said pivotal connection.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first support meanscomprise a bar of fixed length at each end of each panel pivotallyconnectesd at one end to each of said panels, each selectivelyadjustable means comprising an elongated support member of adjustablelength being pivotally connected to oneof said bars at the upward endthereof and pivotally connected at the opposite end to the approximatecenter of said panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,175 4/ 1904Burland. 1,124,420 1/1915 Gough -8 1,675,102 6/ 1928 Holland 181-302,299,323 10/1942 Hetky 182-121 X 3,007,539 11/1961 Brewer et al 181-333,028,706 4/1962 Falconer. 3,107,400 10/ 1963 Anderson 204 FOREIGNPATENTS 637,947 11/ 1936 Germany.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ACOUSTICAL PANEL APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OFSPACED APART PANEL MEMBERS, ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLYFROM SAID PANEL MEMBERS, CONNECTING MEANS AT THE UPWARD END OFF SAIDELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBER, SOME OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS BEINGCONNECTED TO THE PANELS AT POINTS SPACED LATERALLY OF THE CONNECTIONSBETWEEN THE OTHER OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND SAID PANELS,LONGITUDINALLY SHIFTABLE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OFSOME OF SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBERS; WHEREBY THE ANGLE OF INCLINATIONOF SAID PANELS CAN BE CHANGED AS DESIRED; SOME OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERSINCLUDE A PAIR OF ADJACENT AND PARALLEL ELONGATED ELEMENTS POSITIONEDSIDE BY SIDE, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLYSPACED SOCKETS ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS INCLUDINGA PIN ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY ENGAGE SAID SOCKETS AND A LOCKING MEMBERSPACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID PIN AND INCLUDING A PORTION EXTENDINGLATERALLY THEREFROM OVER THE SIDE OF SAID ELEMENT HAVING SAID SOCKETSTHEREIN.